Here now is the 2nd part of our series on the new rules being implemented in the ongoing 2009-10 PBA Season.

SHADED LANE

When the league decided to form teams for the FIBA-Asia championships, it was decided to employ as much of the FIBA rules as the league can. So from a rectangular shaded lane, the PBA went to the trapezoid shaded lane used in international competitions.

But since the team which went to Tianjin, China was the last PBA-formed team to the FIBA-Asia wars, the PBA opted to go back to the rectangular shaded lane starting this season.

For everyone’s information, FIBA has also decided to use the rectangular shaded lane in tournaments after the 2010 World Championships in Turkey.

3-PT. ARC

Same case as the shaded lane. The PBA used the FIBA arc (20 feet 6 inches) in preparation for the FIBA-Asia tournaments. The league has gone back to its original 22-foot arc.

TIP-IN

Before, when a player is fouled while tipping in a shot, or following up with a tip-in, no free throws are awarded the offended player. Starting this season, a tip-in is already considered an act of shooting, so free throws will be awarded a player fouled on a tip-in try.

ILLEGAL SCREENS

In the Competitions Committee meeting held during the offseason, it was agreed that those setting up picks should be given a little bit more of a leeway.  In as much as the league wants to shy away from ticky-tacky fouls being called, why the slightest of movement from a player setting up a pick elicits whistles from game officials was raised.

Under the new rules, a player setting a screen can move his bosy to a new but equal positiob sideways, provided his shoulders are directly squared with his feet. However, the screener cannot lean forward towards the defender or otherwise extend one or more parts of his body (i.e., extending an arm, leg or hips) unnaturally in attempting to impede the defender’s movement in covering his man. A foul wil be called for illegal screening when there is movement by the screener during the actual pick.

PUSHING/BUMPS

Pushing or bump is an illegal personal contact of an opponent with any part of the body in which a player forcibly moved or attempts to move an opponent with or without the ball where the latter is placed at a disadvantage.

A foul will be called on a defender who bumps 1) a shooter, 2) a cutter or 3) a dribbler who loses the ball because of excessive contact.

The new rules we have discussed in this 2-part series are being applied so there will be less interruptions, resulting in faster-paced and more exciting ballgames. They may also be viewed as allowing a little bit more contact, in response to the public’s perception that PBA games have become very “sanitized”  with little or no contact. Basketball being a contact sport, fans would like to see the big boys in the big league bang a little here and there.

Continue sending us those emails if you’d like any PBA topic discussed in this corner. Just email us at pba101@pba.ph.